Nirbhaya Case: How the last 24 hours transpired in courts before the rapists' hanging

On Friday early morning at 5.30, all 4 death row convicts in Nirbhaya rape and murder case were hanged at Tihar jail. Ahead of hanging, stone was left unturned by convicts' lawyers to get execution delayed. convicts exhausted all legal remedies and tried all possible tactics to delay ir execution, from approaching Supreme Court to Patiala Court, Delhi Court and also Bihar court.

mercy petitions and curative petitions of all four convicts — Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar, and Pawan Gupta — have already been dismissed by President and Supreme Court respectively. Patiala House Court had ordered that convicts be hanged on March 20 at 5:30 AM after issuing fresh death warrants which is fourth such date after previous three dates- January 17, January 31 and March 3 were deferred by petitions filed by convicts.

Here is series of events: 

SC Rejects Convict Pawan's Juvenility Claim 

Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed curative petition filed by convict Pawan Kumar Gupta challenging dismissal of his claim of juvenility at time of offence. A six judge bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Arun Mishra, R F Nariman, R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna heard petition and dismissed same as being devoid of merits.

Bihar Court Defers Hearing Divorce Plea Of Nirbhaya Rapist Akshay's Wife

A Bihar court on Thursday deferred hearing on divorce petition of Nirbhaya convict Akshay Singh. wife of convict had on Wednesday filed a divorce petition before court in Bihar's Aurangabad district. She has claimed that she doesn't wish to live with label of being "a rapist's widow". 

READ | Nirbhaya Case: SC Dismisses Convict's Plea, Set Be Hanged At 5.30 Am: LIVE Updates

Convict Mukesh Moves to Supreme Court 

A day ahead of Nirbhaya rape and murder cases convicts' execution, convict Mukesh Singh's lawyer, on Thursday filed a petition before Registrar of Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing in matter. petition filed by Advocate Mahar Lal Sharma, through petition, sought directions to bring call records, documents and reports of his client through any probe ncy and passed appropriate directions and measures to ensure justice in matter. However, petition does t seek a stay on March 20 execution.

Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Plea Of Mukesh Singh

Supreme Court on Thursday refused to hear plea of convict Mukesh Singh, challenging Delhi High Court’s order. Delhi High court had rejected Mukesh Singh's petition claiming that he was t present in Delhi when crime took place. convict n approached Supreme Court, challenging dismissal by Delhi High court. Supreme Court, however, refused to entertain Mukesh Singh's plea.

READ | Nirbhaya Case: SC Rejects Convict Pawan's Juvenility Claim Curative Plea On Eve Of Hanging

Patiala House Court Dismisses Plea Of Nirbhaya Rapists

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana of Patiala House Court on Thursday dismissed plea of convicts in Nirbhaya rape and murder case to stay execution of ir death warrants.  convicts had filed a plea in Patiala House Court seeking a stay of death sentence which was rejected by court.

SC dismisses Akshay's plea challenging rejection of his second mercy petition 

Supreme Court Thursday dismissed death-row convict Akshay Kumar's plea challenging rejection of his second mercy petition by President. A bench of Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna said ground was made out in Akshay's plea for judicial review of decision rejecting mercy petition. Akshay had filed second mercy petition on Wednesday which was rejected by President on Thursday. He had filed his first mercy plea on January 29 which was rejected on January 31.

READ | Bihar Court Defers Hearing Divorce Plea Of Nirbhaya Rapist Akshay's Wife, Ahead Of Hanging

Delhi HC Rejects Convicts' Plea Challenging ir Imminent Execution

Upholding Patiala House Court's order refusing to stay execution of four convicts, Delhi High Court on Thursday, dismissed plea of convicts challenging execution. Justice Manmohan told convicts' lawyer to understand his case was closing finality and that his clients 'will soon meet God'. four Nirbhaya rapists had sought a stay in execution, but Patiala House Court had rejected after which y moved Delhi High Court. 

AP Singh moves SC with Pawan Gupta's Plea Against Hanging

After Delhi High Court dismissed plea of Nirbhaya case convicts challenging ir execution, convicts' lawyer AP Singh on Friday moved to Supreme Court against rejection of Nirbhaya convict Pawan Gupta mercy petition by President. A bench of Justice Banumathi, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice AS Bopanna heard arguments.

3-judge SC Bench Dismisses Pawan Gupta's Plea

Supreme Court in its urgent hearing on Friday, March 20, dismissed last-minute petition of Nirbhaya case death row convict Pawan Gupta against rejection of his mercy plea by President. “We don't find any grounds for entertaining this petition for challenging executive order by which mercy petition was rejected by President. We reby dismiss same”, Justice Banumathi observed while reading out order. " court observed that scope of judicial review of mercy petitions is limited," order furr said.

READ | Less Than 24 Hours Before Execution, Nirbhaya Convict Mukesh Moves SC To Seek Justice